TAdviser Interview: Andrey Frolov, "Titan-Barrikady", about replacement of drawing tables and AutoCAD by solutions of Ascon

Andrey Frolov: The question of equipping of the enterprise design software arose in 2009-2010 along with local networking and transition from design on paper to design on the computer. Before local networking of an enterprise scale drawing tables, PEVM and separate licenses of foreign design software, in the main AutoCAD were used.

For transition to domestic software products there were several reasons. First, acquisition of a large number of licenses of foreign software requires considerable monetary costs (and we needed an optimal ratio of a price/a opportunity). Also precedents of application of sanctions by the CAD foreign developers against the defense enterprises of Russia forced to think. Secondly, design of products of the enterprise requires strict following to domestic state standard specifications, besides we needed software in which it would be possible to work with categorized, regime design data — software products should be certified by FSTEC of the Russian Federation, checked for lack of not declared opportunities. Also the fact that a number of the enterprises, adjacent for us, already work with software of Ascon — for example, the Kolomna CB Mashinostroyeniya, Votkinsk Plant Production association mattered.

Andrey Frolov: Tried, tested the CAD foreign complexes of Autodesk, PTC, Dassault Systemes, Siemens PLM. Top Systems, Ascon, Nanosoft tried the Russian modifications of AutoCAD released by CSoft and also the Russian developments.

Import solutions are good, but were too expensive. Plus support of GOST in them either is not implemented, or is inconvenient, or is given on execution to third-party firms (it inconveniently too). And the unified solution, suitable both was necessary for designers, and for technologists. Besides, not all chain of the movement of design and technology data gathered for software of one vendor, and it significantly complicates the general task. Looked for, selected complete solution of this task.

Only software products of Ascon more or less conformed to our rather wide requirements. Absolutely ideal choice in principle does not exist. For example, by software of Top Systems company it could be used too, however in it the foreign core is used that negatively influenced the choice of this software platform.

Presence of the partner of developers, Ascon South companies in Volgograd became the turning point which influenced the choice of software of Ascon. Ascon South had a prepared implementation team and rather serious experience of implementation at a number of the enterprises for the South of Russia.

Andrey Frolov: Difficulties, of course, were. For example, originally there were alarms concerning correctness of the choice of a complex software platform of a CAD. One more moment — a habit and skills of work with specific software: "Compass" was not widely known at the enterprise. By the time of the beginning of software implementation of Ascon at the enterprise there was already an essential backlog of design data in formats of foreign software, and it had to be considered too.

We had to adapt the software complex of Ascon for tasks of the enterprise thoroughly. For obvious reasons upon transition with paper to electronic design all business design processes considerably change. For the best understanding of these changes the concept of software implementation of Ascon was developed, approved and approved.

Andrey Frolov: Debuggings of software there was a set. I will not list everything. The largest completions concerned functionality of a complex of Ascon: for example, the modules "Pilot Izveshcheniya" for work with technology documentation were improved, the Cables and Bundles 2D application was upgraded, the modules "Bill of Materials", "Sheet of Labour Input", "Comparison of versions of the electronic document developed in Compas-Grafik, Archive for experimental plant and so on were developed.

In 2017, in April, solved a serious problem on increase in overall performance of a sheaf Pilot and Compass. It is only largest, small debuggings to list very long. The similar way was passed also in the Kolomna KBM, and in the Votkinsk software of VZ.

Technical support of Ascon South and programmers of Ascon in case of a problem react quickly, according to requests. Programmers of department 5 FNPTs "Titan-Barrikady", in parallel with Ascon execute debugging, completion and maintenance/administration of the software complex of Ascon, especially regarding interface of a number of metadata to 1C: Manufacturing Enterprise Management base.

Andrey Frolov: I already mentioned also force of a habit to work with specific software, and presence of large volume of design data in the third-party formats developed not in software of Ascon.

If the wrong functioning of software of Ascon comes to light, according to the operational request from division measures for identification of the reasons and troubleshooting are taken. The part of the revealed problems is solved by editing/debugging of access rights of the user to electronic data. At the initial stage, in 2014-2015, there were many difficulties. Considerably user training helped to cope with difficulties.

Now the complex is in trial operation. We are going to complete debugging in 2017 and to transfer a complex to commercial operation.

Andrey Frolov: The number of users of software of Ascon exceeds 380 people (designers, technologists, auxiliary divisions of the enterprise). In 2017 acquisition of a number of the licenses "Compass" and libraries is planned. There comes the moment when there are not enough licenses since the total quantity of users gradually increases. In 2017 additional licenses for compensation of need of designers and technologists will be purchased.

The updated software complex of Ascon of the version of 2017 is exposed to deep processing. Already we test and we will test further new Compass-3D versions, "the Pilot: PLM", Vertical, reference books, libraries. The issue of transition to the latest versions was not discussed yet.

Andrey Frolov: On a ratio of "price/a opportunity" the software complex of Ascon quite successfully was suitable for the main objectives of design design and technology maintenance of production of our enterprise. The convenience consists not only in application Compass (all new products are projected in a CAD Compass-3D). Convenience from the software complex of Ascon — in parts: processing of assemblies in "the Pilot: PLM", application of libraries, use of reference books "Materials and Ranges", "Standard Products", "Reference book by the technologist", etc. The main thing for design and technology divisions — compliance of all cycle of work with software to domestic design state standard specifications.

In 2015 understanding of independence of domestic software of possible sanctions of foreign producers was in an explicit form shown. Acquisition of additional licenses of foreign software would become impossible or otherwise burdensome for the enterprise.